# Submit to Hacker News (Show HN)

> Launch Llama directory submission tracker review — last reviewed 2026-08-25

- **Canonical:** https://tools.launchllama.co/tools/launch-directories/hacker-news-show-hn
- **Markdown twin:** https://tools.launchllama.co/directory-spokes/hacker-news-show-hn.md
- **Directory:** Hacker News (Show HN) (news.ycombinator.com)
- **Submit URL:** https://news.ycombinator.com
- **DR:** 92
- **Pricing:** Free
- **Category:** Tech / Startups (#1 of 18 by DR in this category)
- **Referral traffic:** Very High
- **Backlink quality:** Weak
- **Link type:** Nofollow — HN links use rel="nofollow ugc" — value is traffic and credibility, not pass-through DR

## Quick verdict

Top Tech / Startups pick — #1 of 18 by DR, free to submit. Worth it for technical products with a clear demo; skip if you only want passive SEO links.

**Best for:** Dev tools, APIs, and technical SaaS with a working demo · Founders who can reply thoughtfully in comments for 2–4 hours

## Approval & timeline

- **Time-to-live:** Posts go live immediately after submission if your account meets karma rules. Front-page visibility depends on upvotes within the first 1–3 hours.
- **Review:** Community-moderated via flags and downvotes. Off-topic, marketing-heavy, or low-effort posts sink quickly; thoughtful founder replies help recovery.
- **Common rejections:** Flagged as spam, affiliate funnels, “coming soon” pages, duplicate Show HN within weeks, or posts that read like ads without a substantive product demo.
- **Reputation:** HN audience is skeptical of hype — transparent technical posts with a live product outperform polished launch copy. Weak backlink SEO (nofollow) despite DR 92.

## Pros

- DR 92 domain with Very High traffic when a post hits the homepage
- Free to submit; no paid placement or directory queue
- Highly relevant audience for dev tools, infra, and technical SaaS
- Comment threads drive qualified feedback and early power users

## Cons

- Links are nofollow — rated Weak for backlink equity in our tracker
- Front page is competitive; many Show HN posts get minimal traction
- Requires active founder participation in comments for best results
- Account karma threshold can block brand-new HN accounts

## What you need before you submit

- Working product URL — HN readers expect to click through and try it
- Title formatted as “Show HN: {Product name} – {one-line value prop}”
- Short comment with context: what you built, who it is for, and what feedback you want
- Hacker News account with enough karma to submit (varies; new accounts often limited)
- Optional: GitHub repo or technical write-up for developer-heavy products

**Gotchas:**

- Do not ask for upvotes — HN guidelines prohibit vote solicitation
- Avoid posting the same product repeatedly within a few weeks
- Landing pages that are pure waitlists or “coming soon” usually perform poorly

## Submission mechanics

- **Account:** Hacker News account required. Submit at news.ycombinator.com/submit with URL and title; add your context in the first comment immediately after posting.
- **Categories:** No formal categories — use a clear Show HN title. Non-technical consumer apps can work but dev tools and B2B SaaS fit the audience best.
- **Anchor text:** Your product name in the post title; the outbound link is whatever URL you submit (typically your homepage or demo).
- **Link placement:** Single outbound link in the submission URL field — indexed discussion page on news.ycombinator.com/item?id=…

## FAQ

### How much karma do you need to post Show HN?

Hacker News does not publish a fixed number. New accounts often cannot submit until they have some comment karma; building karma via genuine comments first is the usual path.

### Does Show HN give a dofollow backlink?

No — Hacker News uses nofollow on outbound links. Treat Show HN as high-intent traffic and brand credibility, not DR transfer.

### What is the best time to post Show HN?

Many founders target weekday mornings US time (9–11 AM ET) when the homepage churn is high. Quality and comment engagement matter more than the exact hour.

### Can I post Show HN again after a failed launch?

Wait several weeks and lead with a materially different angle — new major feature, pricing change, or open-source release. Duplicate reposts are often flagged.

## Related

- [Directory Submission Tracker](https://tools.launchllama.co/tools/launch-directories)
- [Tech / Startups directories](https://tools.launchllama.co/tools/launch-directories?category=tech-startups)
- [Directory backlink service](https://tools.launchllama.co/launch#directory-submissions)
- [llms.txt](https://tools.launchllama.co/llms.txt)